Germany vs Scotland predictions: Euro 2024 tips and odds

Our betting expert provides three bets for the opening game of Euro 2024 as hosts Germany face Scotland in Munich (kick-off, 8pm BST). Scroll down for the analysis behind his selections.

Germany vs Scotland betting tips

• Germany to win and under 3.5 goals @ 1/1 with Sky Bet
• Kai Havertz first goalscorer @ 4/1 with Sky Bet
• Bet builder: 20+ Scotland booking points, John McGinn to be shown a card and over 6.5 Germany corners @ 5/1 with Sky Bet

Odds correct at time of publishing and subject to change.

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Hosts set for winning start

Germany crashed out to England in the round of 16 at Euro 2020 but expectations are high for the hosts ahead of this tournament.

Despite the national team suffering group-stage eliminations at the previous two World Cups, Germany’s fans will expect their side to go deep on home soil and will be happy with their draw.

Julian Nagelsmann’s side start their Group A campaign against Scotland before fixtures with Hungary and Switzerland – and this may be the easiest of their assignments.

Scotland have had a nightmare preparation, with Aaron Hickey, Nathan Patterson and Lewis Ferguson ruled out of the squad through injury and Lyndon Dykes and Ben Doak subsequently withdrawing.

Their strength is in defence and midfield and that should ensure they stand firm and remain competitive. But there is a severe lack of striking options, with Southampton’s Che Adams and Lawrence Shankland of Hearts being their only obvious choices in attack.

That makes it hard to see them troubling a Germany side who have recorded friendly successes over France, the Netherlands and Greece since the beginning of March.

Scotland’s only win in their last nine, meanwhile, came against minnows Gibraltar, while they failed to score in recent friendly defeats against the Netherlands and Northern Ireland.

Their lack of attacking options means they will have to keep things tight and Germany, sure to be feeling some pressure opening their home tournament, may take time to stamp their authority.

This isn’t the Germany of old and, with their previous five internationals all producing under 3.5 goals, they are taken to edge a low-scoring opening encounter.

Germany vs Scotland tip 1: Germany to win & under 3.5 goals @ 1/1 with Sky Bet

Havertz can shine in favoured role

Arsenal’s Havertz heads to his home European Championship on a high following a fine finish to the domestic campaign in which he netted five goals in his final eight Premier League matches.

That upturn in form coincided with Mikel Arteta deploying him as a centre-forward – the role he is set to play for Germany, with Nagelsmann favouring him over Borussia Dortmund’s Niclas Fullkrug.

Havertz has 16 goals in 46 appearances for Germany and his last six caps have yielded three goals. In what may be a low-scoring contest, the confident 25-year-old could be the difference maker.

Germany vs Scotland tip 2: Kai Havertz first goalscorer @ 4/1 with Sky Bet

McGinn to fall foul of officials

Scotland are expected to spend a lot of time out of possession and that could contribute to a couple of cards for Steve Clarke’s side.

Punters can back Scotland to pick up 20 or more booking points (10 are awarded for a yellow, 25 for a straight red and 35 for two yellows) and that may include a yellow card for John McGinn, who wears his heart on his sleeve and rarely shies away from a challenge.

McGinn collected nine bookings in 35 Premier League appearances for Aston Villa this season, while two of his past five international appearances have yielded a yellow card.

Complete this 5/1 bet builder with Germany to have seven or more corners, something that has happened in their previous three internationals, with recent matches against Ukraine and Greece reaching tallies of 11 and 13.

Germany vs Scotland tip 3: Bet builder: 20+ Scotland booking points, John McGinn to be shown a card and over 6.5 Germany corners @ 5/1 with Sky Bet

Germany vs Scotland odds

• Germany @ 2/7 with Sky Bet
• Draw @ 17/4 with Sky Bet
• Scotland @ 9/1 with Sky Bet

Odds, correct at the time of publication, are subject to change.

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